Prominent Chinese dissident Wei Jingsheng (
Wei was in Washington on Saturday to attend an anti-Chinese communist rally staged by about 30 Chinese groups in the US calling for Chinese around the world to end communism.
In light of Beijing's drafting of the anti-secession law, Wei said cross-strait relations are now even more jittery than during 1996, when China test-fired live missiles and held live-ammunition war games in the Taiwan Strait.
Wei said that some politicians in Taiwan had thought that after Hu Jintao (
Invading Taiwan is a "big deal" and there have been many voices opposed to the notion in China in the past. However, Wei said, it is increasingly noticeable in recent years that the Chinese leadership is attempting to "cook" the Chinese people's patriotism by taking advantage of rising pro-independence sentiment within Taiwan.
To pave the way for the communists to teach Taiwan a lesson militarily, the Beijing leadership has thought about enacting the anti-secession law, Wei said.
Meanwhile, Wei said some people in Taiwan believe China will not attack Taiwan militarily based on economic considerations.
Wei urged these people not to harbor such beliefs any longer, saying that the communists, as a whole, are basically a daring group willing to take risks. Wei noted that some 50 years ago, the communists had managed to defeat the Chinese Nationalist forces and take control of the whole of China simply because they "dared to."
Believing that Beijing's passing of the anti-secession law is an irreversible trend, Wei suggested that Taiwan adjust its foreign policy and work to strengthen bilateral exchanges with the US and other countries so as to win their support.
Taiwan is to have nine extended holidays next year, led by a nine-day Lunar New Year break, the Cabinet announced yesterday. The nine-day Lunar New Year holiday next year matches the length of this year’s holiday, which featured six extended holidays. The increase in extended holidays is due to the Act on the Implementation of Commemorative and Festival Holidays (紀念日及節日實施條例), which was passed early last month with support from the opposition Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party. Under the new act, the day before Lunar New Year’s Eve is also a national holiday, and Labor Day would no longer be limited
COMMITMENTS: The company had a relatively low renewable ratio at 56 percent and did not have any goal to achieve 100 percent renewable energy, the report said Pegatron Corp ranked the lowest among five major final assembly suppliers in progressing toward Apple Inc’s commitment to be 100 percent carbon neutral by 2030, a Greenpeace East Asia report said yesterday. While Apple has set the goal of using 100 percent renewable energy across its entire business, supply chain and product lifecycle by 2030, carbon emissions from electronics manufacturing are rising globally due to increased energy consumption, it said. Given that carbon emissions from its supply chain accounted for more than half of its total emissions last year, Greenpeace East Asia evaluated the green transition performance of Apple’s five largest final
Taiwan is to extend its visa-waiver program for Philippine passport holders for another year, starting on Aug. 1, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said on Friday. Lin made the announcement during a reception in Taipei marking the 127th anniversary of Philippine independence and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) in Taiwan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. The decision reflected Taiwan’s commitment to deepening exchanges with the Philippines, the statement cited Lin as saying, adding that it was a key partner under the New Southbound Policy launched in 2016. Lin also expressed hope
Temperatures in New Taipei City’s Sindian District (新店) climbed past 37°C yesterday, as the Central Weather Administration (CWA) issued heat alerts for 16 municipalities, warning the public of intense heat expected across Taiwan. The hottest location in Taiwan was in Sindian, where the mercury reached 37.5°C at about 2pm, according to CWA data. Taipei’s Shilin District (士林) recorded a temperature of 37.4°C at noon, Taitung County’s Jinfeng Township (金峰) at 12:50 pm logged a temperature of 37.4°C and Miaoli County’s Toufen Township (頭份) reached 36.7°C at 11:40am, the CWA said. The weather agency yesterday issued a yellow level information notice for Taipei, New
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